A recent finding by IntelPoint Research shows that South Africa has achieved an important milestone ranked as the second-highest literacy country on the continent. Rankings are measured by the percentage of individuals over the age of 15 who can read and write.
Top literacy countries in Africa
Seychelles – South Africa 96% – 95% Mauritius – 92.2% Zimbabwe – Approximately 94% Botswana – 88% Adult Literacy Rate
Pillars of Success in South Africa's Literacy
Basic Education and Training for Adults (ABET/CET): The heart of adult literacy is the Community Education and Training (CET) Program (known as ABET). Leading by the 1996 Constitutional Bill of Rights, embarrassing the rights to basic and adult education, the government gradually expands CET centres across nine states, ensuring accessibility in remote locations.
Mass Literacy Campaign: Launched in 2008, the Kha ri gude Mass Literacy campaign provides 240 hours of instruction to native language literacy, several issues and English learners, integrating life skills such as health, gender equality and civic education. Complementing this, the Read To Read campaign launched in July 2015 targets early reading proficiency, aiming to read at age-appropriate levels by 2019. These campaigns mobilized thousands of volunteers, established book clubs, provided free study materials and dramatically expanded literacy outreach.
Early Childhood Development and Teacher Development: Recognizing that basic skills begin early, the Ministry of Basic Education has strengthened the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre and coordinated UNESCO best practices to improve school readiness for children from underprivileged backgrounds. Furthermore, Eastern Cape Reading Strategies and Planning (2022-2030) highlights teacher preparation, age-appropriate study material, and community involvement to support reading from grade R to grade 9.
Cultivating a culture of reading: Beyond formal instruction, South Africa has cultivated a vibrant reading culture through initiatives like Nalbari. It offers a nationwide reading comprehension campaign that offers storytelling seats and free storybooks to inspire your imagination. Innovative resources such as Vula Bula Readers are voice-leveled texts in nine official African languages ​​that allow learners to access the material on their mother's tongue. Grassroots efforts by NGOs also increase the availability of reading materials, particularly in rural schools.
Ongoing Initiatives in the Seventh Administration: In the current (7th) administration, the government has forced grades R (reception year) between 5 and 6 years old, shifting surveillance of initial learning centres from the Social Development Bureau to basic education, and allocated R17 billion to expand its quality-grade R offering across the country. These reforms aim to ensure that every child enters Grade 1 with basic literacy and mathematics.
The impact on the workforce and higher education
High literacy rates have been converted into skilled and adaptable labor. South Africa achieved a global ranking of 100 in the 2024 Coursera Global Skills Report. It is ranked ninth in African countries and shows coordination between educational outcomes and economic sector requirements. The 2024 IMD World Talent Rankings allocated a 41.21 overall talent score to South Africa, reflecting the strengths of education quality, skill availability and talent retention.
South African universities are also prominent in the global rankings.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is ranked 171st in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Witwatersrand University (Wits) and Stellenbosch University both appear worldwide in 301-350 bands.
The University of Cape Town also led the continent in alumni employment potential, ranking 95th in the world with a score of 59.1, with Whits and the University of Pretoria following in the 191-300 bands. Additionally, UCT's employment outcome indicator scored 92.8, confirming high demand for South African graduates.
Looking ahead, universal literacy and economic growth
Celebrating these achievements, the government recognizes the sustained gap in literacy, especially among rural and historically underprivileged communities, expanding interventions in its own country's literacy, adult second chance programs and digital learning initiatives. Continuous investment in teacher development, infrastructure and learning materials remains important.
South Africa aims to achieve universal literacy and strengthen its position as a hub of talent and innovation on the African continent and beyond by further incorporating reading, strengthening its ECD enhancement and use of public playful partnerships.
